Lock-clip for connecting buckets to traction-ropes of aerial wire-rope tramways.



No. 738.310. PATENTED SEPTUS, 1903.

o. T. PINLAYsoN. LOCK om POR GONNBGTING BUGKETS To TRAGTION Roms 0F AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 'LEVHBBTS-SHEBT 1v c6/Leases:

No. 738,310. PATENTED SEPT. 8. 1903. O. 'I'. EINLAYSON.

LOOK CLIP POR CONNEOTING BUOKETS TO 'I'RAO'I'ION ROPES OF AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 27. 1903. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ma cams Hafens co. momumm msmwcron. u. c4

No. 738,310. PATENTED SEPT. 8,1903.

C. T. EINLAYSON. LOCK CLIP FOR GONNEGTING BUGKETS T0 TRAGTION ROPES OE AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS.

APPLIoATmN FILED Arx. 27. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 738,310. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

c. T. FINLAYsoN. LOCK CLIPIOR GONNBCTING BUGKBTS To TRAGTION Rom-:sY 0F AERIAL WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS.

APPLICATION IILIID un. 27 1903.

. 4 SHEETS-snm 4..

N0 MODEL.

m: Norms percus co. Hom-mno., wnsmunmn. n c

tio. 738,310.

UNITED. STATES Iatented September 8, E1903 PATENT GEEICE.

CHRISTOPHER T. FINLAYsON, on DENVER, COLORADO;

LOCK-CLIP FOB CONNECTING BUCKIS T0 THACTION-ROPES 0F AERIAL WIRE-ROPE TRAMWYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,310, dated September 8, 1903. Application filed April 27, 1903. ,Serial No. 154.488. (No model.)

To all whom, it Witty concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER T. FIN- LAYSON, a citizen ot the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denverand State Of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lock- Clips for Connecting Buckets to the 'Fraction- Ropes of Aerial Wire-Rope Tramways; and I do Vdeclare the following to be a full, clear; and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in rope-clips for connecting trolley-buckets to the traction-rope of aerial wire-rope tramways; and the objects of my invention are, first, to providea rope-clip that can be used with either the overhead or depending systems of the double-rope type of aerial wire-rope tramways; second, to provide a clip having' an autoinatic lock connection with the trolley of the bucket when applied to the overhead system of wire-rope tramways and to the pendant of the bucket when applied to the depending system of wire-rope tramways; third, to provide means for automatically locking and unlocking the clip to and from the buckets; fourth, to providea clip that when locked is positively connected and fixed against slipping movement or accidental dis-` placement from its connection with the trol-y ley-bucket in the direction of movement of the traction-rope and bucket and one that while it is so connected tothe bucket is atr .the same time pivotally connected to it in sucha mannerthat it will swing transversely over the trolley ofthe bucket through a sweep 'of about a half of a full circle and substantially an equal distance transversely of the run or lay ot' the ropein a vertical plane when attached to the pendant of thebucketinthe depending system. Iattain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wliichi Figure l represents a side elevation of m improved lock-clip applied to a trolley of a bucket and as applied to the overhead system Ol wire-rope tramways. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 represents a section-end elevation of Figs. l and 2 on line 3 v3 and 3 3 and also shows an end elevation of `the rod-guides I preferably employ to lock and unlock the clip to or from a trolleybucket. Fig. 4.- represents a perspective View of my improved locking-clip secured to a rope. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of lock- 'ing and unlocking yoke. Fig. G represents an end elevation partially in sect-ion on line 6 G of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a plan view of the clips locking-bolt holding-socket. Fig. 8 isan end elevation of the locking-bolts holdingsocket shownin Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isaverticalsectional elevation of Fig. 7. Fig. lOis aside elevation of a wire-rope tram way of the overheadsystem type, showinga trolley-bucket operatively mou nted on the track or stationary rope and my improved lock-clip operatively connecting the bucket tothe traction or running rope and a side elevation ot' the guide-track device shown in Fig. 3, which I employ at the fterminals of the tramway or at any predetermined point in the tram-line toautomatically lock and secure the clip to or to unlock and release the clip from a trolley-bucket. Fig. -ll represents a side elevation of my improved lock-clip operatively applied i to the depend- ,ing type of wire-rope tramways, in which case itis connected directly to thfe' pendant of a 'trolley-bucket and is illustrated mounted in la swiveling frame arranged to swivel or rotatably oscillate in alinernent with the run or `lay of .the traction and track ropes. Fig. 12 ,represents a sectional view of Fig. 1l on line 12 l2 looking in the direction of the arrow iA A, showing a sectional elevation of Fig. 11 and an end elevation of the locking and unlocking device shown in side elevation in Fig. 9. .Fig 13 is a side elevation ofthe lockclips locking-bolt holding-socket as shown in the depending system.

Similar figures of reference referto similar parts throughout the several views.

In all the figures of the drawings except Figs. ll, l2, and 13 I have preferably illustrated my invention operatively connected to the overhead system ot' aerial wire-rope tramways, by which I mean the system in common use in which the traction or running rope is placed above the stationary or track rope;

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my improved lock-clip operatively connected to the depending system of aerial wire-rope tramways, by which I mean the system in common use in which the traction or ruiming rope is placed below the stationary or track rope. 'lhe construction of my improved clip is the saine for use with either system. The location and manner of attachment to a trolley-bucket is, however, slightly dierent, as will be explained fully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designates the stationary or track rope of an overhead type of a wire-rope tramway, and 2 the traction or running rope. The tractionrope is an endless continuously-running rope which is mounted ou sheaves which are supported at theends of a tramway-line by suitable structures called terminals, which are designated as loadingand dumping terminals or upper and lower terminals. There are two stationary or track ropes, only one of which is shown. These are attached to the opposite sides of the terminals to their inner ends and connect to a metal track which extends around the terminal, and thus forms a continuous track. Intermediate of the terminals the traction-rope is supported on run on the track-rope.

sheaves and the stationary ropes on saddles placed at the top of suitable towers. I do not illustrate the terminals or towers, as they do not form a part of my present invention.

The numeral 3'designates a trolley. This trolley consists of a yoke-shaped casing 4, in which I pivotally mount on shafts 5 and 6 sheave-wheels 7 and 8, which are adapted to Between the sides of the casing and between the wheels I secure a spreader-block 9 by the rivets 10. Through the lower part of the casing and the spreaderblock I form an aperture l2, in which l rotatably mount a shaft 13, in the circumference of which I form a senlicircular groove 14. A

screw 15 is threaded into the bottom of the spreader-block and its point extends into the groove 14 and secures the shaft to the trolley. If preferred, the groove may be dispensed with and the adjacent end'may be upset, or, if desired, both may be used. The opposite end of the shaft extends beyond the trolleycasing and is of smaller diameter and extends through the top of a casting 16, that forms the apex of the pendant 17 ofthe bucket 18. The end of the shaft is upset to tightly secure the pendant to the shaft between its upset end and the shoulder of the shaft. The pendant comprises two metal bars that are secured at one of their ends to the apex-casting and vdiverge outward and extend downward and are pivotally connected to the ends of the buckels'lS by the trunnion-pins 19. The

' spreader-block extends through an opening socket comprises two short tubular lugs or tubes20 and 21, the outside ends 29A and 2OB of which are outwardly flared. These tubular lugs are separated a short distance apart by a downwardly-sloping recess 22, which extends from one side of the top of the spreaderblock downwardly between the tubular lugs to the opposite side of the spreader-block. An axial aperture 2lA extends through both lugs, and a portion of this aperture extends into and across the bottom of the inclined recess, thus forming a straight continuous aperture through the clip-locking socket. A guide-recess 23 is formed in the top of the casing from end to end in alineinent with the -aperture through the socket, and the ends of socket, and at the side of the tube, centrally of the recess 22 and adjacent to the buckets pendant, a pair of ears 25 are formed at a short distance apart, to which is pivotally secured, by a pin 25^, one end of an actuatinglever 26, which is pivoted to swing vertically through an arc of a circle at right angles to the axis of the aperture in the socket. The function of this lever will be fully described hereinafter. Round bearings 27 and 28 are formed on the socket on each sideof the recess 22. socket I pivotally mount two rings 29 and 30, which form the terminal ends of an oscillating yoke 3l, the cross-bar portion of which is slidably connected to the actuating-lever 26 adjacent to its end that is pivoted to the ears 25 of the socket. The rings each contain a slot 32 and 33, which are arranged to stand substantially opposite one another, but enough out of axial alinement with each other, so that when the body of the clip passes through one'slot it will strike the side of the opposite ring,and the yoke and opposite ring would have to be moved in line with the body of the clip to allow it to pass through the slot of the opposite ring. The slot 32 in the ring 29 is a tapering slot, its lower side wall being formed with a downward-divergiug incline from the inside of the ring toward its outside end. The slotl in the ring 30 is a straight slot arranged to be easily entered by the body of the clip. y

The yoke 31 is preferably constructed in* the following manner: The rings are preferably rnade in two halves,each half being arranged to form a part of the ring and form the slots 32 and 33. One-half of each ring is formed with stem portions 36 and 37 opposite their slot-forming ends, ou the end of which there is formed short lugs 3S and 39, which project at right angles to the stern of the rings. The ends of these lugs are provided with an enlarged collar portion 40 and 41. An aperture is formed through these lugs and the ends of the stem of the rings,in which ex- Upon the round bearings of the` ICO TIO

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tends a pin 42. The center 42A of this pinis while the ends of the pin are riveted to rig-` idly secure the ends of the pin and the lugs together against the enlarged shouldered portion, thus uniting the stems of the half-rings into a yoke. The other half of each ring is provided with a stem portion which overlaps and is secured to the stems portion of the opposite half of each ring by rivets 43. The parts of the yoke are thus easily and quickly assembled together and connected to the bear ings of the socket to the lever 26.

The actuating-lever 26 is provided with a right-angled aperture 44, one part of which is formed parallel with the lever. In this rightangled aperture the center 42A of the pin 42 of the cross-bar of the yoke between its collars is slidably mounted, so that as the actuating-lever 26 is swung vertically on its pivotal pin 25A the rings of the yoke will rotate on the bearings ot' the socket, and the slots in the rings can be moved to register alternately with the slots in the end tubes of the socket by predetermined movements of the lever 26. The free end of the lever extends a short distance beyond the right-angled slot 44, and at its ends a knob or head 45 is formed.

The rope-clip of my improved rope and bucket lock-clip comprises a flat thin blade 45a, which lterm the body of the clip. This blade is provided at the corners of one of its ends with two projecting plate portions 46 and 47, which are separated a short distance apart by a recess. These projecting portions are adapted to form bands to clamp the clip to the rope. The surface of these band portions that lays against the rope is preferably provided withspiral flutes arranged to register with the lay ot' the strands of the rope. These bands are heated and folded tightly around the rope and their ends lap over onto the body of the clip and are rigidly riveted there. The opposite end of the body of the clip is provided with a cartridge'shaped end 48, which I term the bolt of the lock-clip. This bolt extends across'and beyond the end of the body of the clip and at right angles to it and parallel to the run of the rope, thus forming a T-shaped end of the free end of the clip. This bolt 48 is ,preferably round and the ends taper to a point in order that it may very easily enter the outwardly-dared ends of the end tubes of the socket. The actuating-lever 26 may be operated to automatically operate the yoke to lock and unlock the boit ot the clip in the clips socket by variously-arranged levers positioned at l the terminals and at points where itis derods may be supported at the side of the rope in any desired manner in the running path of the actuatingdever. VThese rodsare arranged parallel to each other andare positioned at a suiiicient distance apart to form a slot a trifle wider than the thickness of the end of the actuating-lever adjacent to the knob or ball at its end. The actuating-lever in order to operate the yoke to lock and unlock the bolt of the clip when the clip enters and leaves the socket must travel in a circle in a vertical direction around its pivotal support, and the guide-rails which operate it are curved to form an arc of the same radius as the actuating-lever makes close to the ball at its end, as shown in Fig. 3, and in order to. move the lever up and down to operate the .lock and unlock the bolt when it enters the socket, I arrange the rods in the following manner: The lower rod 49 is positioned with one of its `terminal ends below the lowest point, the ball at the end of the actuatinglever 26 moves to on the actuating-levers downward stroke,which is preferably at about asiXty-degree angle downwardly from its pivotal center, at which inclination it just clears the apex of the pendant of the bucket. actuating-lever is a gravity-locking lever, as its weight keeps it hanging normally downward, and as it moves downward it turns the yoke on the bearings of the socket, so that the slots in it, through which the body of the clip passes, also stand `at an upward vertical angle, preferably of about sixty degrees; but as the cross-bar of the yoke is moved down with the lever its lever-connecting pin slides down in the part 53 of the right-angled slot until it reaches the part 54 of this right-angled slot, into which it moves as the lever continues moving down until it reaches the end of the part 54 of the slot, against which it abuts and stops and locks the lever against furtheat;l

downward movement, and at the same time the yoke itself is Vlocked against turning on The ICO

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the bearings of the socket except an upward movement be given to the ball end of the actuating-lever. The trolley-bucket is moved manually after it is either loaded or dumped to a point where the clip can pick it up, as willbe explained hereinafter. Y Consequently assuming that the clip is locked in thesocket and the bucket is attached to the tractionrope, the guide-rails must be arranged to catch the actuating-lever close to its ball end and raise it up high enough to turn the slots in the rings ot' the yoke, first, to free the bucket from the clip by turning the yoke so that the ring 30 will register in alinement with the slot 24A in the end tube 2l of the socket, which will allow the body of the clip to pass through the slots 24A and 33 of the socket and yoke, respectively, and allow the bolt of the clip to pass out of the socket; second, to then move the actuating-lever down to a horizontal position, which will turn the yokes rings on the bearings of the socket and bring the tapering slot 32 of the ring ofthe tube of the socket to allow the bolt and vbody of the clip to pass into the socket and again connect a bucket to the continuouslyrunning traction rope, and, third, to then move the actuating-lever down to the limit of its downward stroke to turn the yoke-rings on the socket to turn both of the rings of the yoke, so that' their slots will both be movedy far enough away from the slots in the socket to make accidental detachment of the clip from the socket and of the bucket from the rope impossible, as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently the terminal end ofthe rod 49, which is positioned to receive the moving clips, is placed below the limit of the downward movement of the actuating-lever and inclines upward at a suitable angle for the actuatinglever to slide up when it strikes it. 10.) This upwardly-inclined portion of the rod 49 is of sufficient length to raise the actuating-lever high enough to bring the slot of the yoke-ring 30 to register with the slot 24A in the end tube 2l of the socket, which will permit the bolt .and the body of the clip to pass out of the socket. The rod 49 is then bent and extends in a straight horizontal plane portion for a distance sufiicient to hold the actuating-lever u p, and consequently the said slots, in registering alinement until the clip has passed fully out of the socket. The top rod 50 at this end is arranged in a straight horizontal plane to the front end of the rod 49 and at a suficient distance above the straight portion 55 of the rod 49 to form a loose slideway-slot 56 between them for the actuating-lever close to the ball at its end, which projects through the slot between the rods and travels along o n the opposite sides of the rods from the trolley buckets and ropes of the tramway. At the end ofthe horizontal straight portion of the rods they both bend downward at an outward angle and extend at this angle a sufficient distance to carry the actuating-lever to the central or horizontal position of its movement, in which position the slot 32 of the ring 29 of the yoke is brought to register in alinement with the tapering slot 24 of the tube 20 of the socket, which allows the bolt and body of the clip to enter the socket. At this point both rods are again bent and extend horizontally a distance suf- Iicient to allow the clip to fully enter the socket, when both rods are again bent and extend downward atan outward angle a distance sufficient to move the actuating-lever to the end of its downward movement, which turns the slots of the yoke upward away from the slots in the socket and positively locks the clip to the socket and the bucket to the rope, the rods being arranged parallel to each other from the highest point they raise the actuating-lever to the lowest point they leave it at and at a sufticient space'apart to allow the actuating-lever to slide loosely between them.

The proper position for the clip and traction-rope'when passing around the terminal (See Fig.l

-distance apart.

of a tram-line and also between the terminals when passing over the supporting-sheaves of the towers Vis in a horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the construction ot a tram-line over a rough mountainous country it is often necessary to make curves and to lower or raise the running rope and to even carry it up and over the vertical center of the trolley to the opposite side of the trolley and bucket. The overhead system of wire-rope tramways is, however, the only system in which the traction-rope can be carried up over the trolley of the bucket and from one side of the trolley to its opposite side. This system is very fully illustrated in its various parts in my applications for patents, Serial No. 134,420, filed December 8, 1902, Serial No. 136,726, tiled December 26, 1902, Serial No. 139,612, led .Ianuary 19, 1903, and Serial No. 144,853, filed February 24, 1903. My bucket and rope clip is especially adapted for use with this overhead system as disclosed in these abovenamed applications, as the rope and clip can and is free to swing at all times in a transverse vertical plane from considerably below the normally horizontal position of the clip and rope up and over the vertical'center of the socket and trolley to its opposite side, and in any position they may assume the rope can be supported by suitable sheaves, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 11, 12, and 13 I illust-rate my new lock-clip applied to a tramway system of the depending type. In adapting my invention to the system no changes are necessary in the locking parts of the socket-yoke, actuatinglever, or guide-rods; but some slight additions for supporting and connecting the lock-clip to the pendant are necessary, as in this system the clip is attached to the pendant of the bucket instead of to the trolley,as in the overhead system. Consequently it is necessary to make the socket separate from the spreaderblock and to mountit on a suitable supporting-frame that can be attached to the pendant of the bucket. I preferably carry out this feature of my invention in the following manner: I secure to the side of the pendant two cross-bars 57 and 58, which I place at a short To these bars I secure by bolts 59 two oppostely-arranged flange-plates 60 and 61,which form the fastening-plates of a disk-shaped su pporting-ring 62,0f which these iianged plates form an integral part. One side of each of these flanged plates is provided with a projectinglip which rests against the same side of both of the cross bars. I mount rotatably in this fixed ring 62 a swiveling ring 63, the outer edge of the flange of which overlaps the supporting-ring on its side toward the ropes 1 and 2 and the clip of the tramway. This swiveling ringl is provided with lugs 64 and 64A, which are positioned at suitable distances apart around its peripheral ring portion, and a cap-ring 65, which is Iitted to register with it and to lap over onto the IOO IIO

` tramway -by the screws,which are long enough fixed ring, is secured by screws 66 to it on the opposite side of the iixed ring. In order to secure the socket to thc swivel-ring, I provide it, as shown in Fig. 13, with projecting screwlugs 67, which are formed on it in positions to register over the rear end ot' four of the lugs 64e* the cap-ring is secured to. I then secure these lugs (i7 to the opposite ends of the lugs 64 from the cap-ring and on the side of the swiveling ring adjacentto the ropes ofthe to pass through the cap and lugs and screw into the lugs ol` the socket, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l2. The socket is thus swivelingly mounted in the fixed ring ofthe pendant. The yoke is mounted on the bearings of the socket and is arranged as in the overhead system; but the actuating-lever is piv-` otally connected to two ears 68, which project from the rear side of a collar portion 69, that is formed on the center of the socket between the bearings of the yokes rings. This collar portion does not extend entirely around the center of the socket, but on to a trilie beyond' the topand lower portion of the socket, where it terminates to inclined walls that converge to the axial aperture 2lA of the socket, thus leaving a large central opening surrounding y the horizontal position of the clip. This central angular space permits the traction-rope and the clip to swing on the clips bolt in the socket above and below the normal horizontal position of the clip, as indicated by the positions of the clip and rope and its supporting-sheaves in dotted lines in Fig. I2. The swiveling connection of the socket to the fixed ring of the pendant permits the clip and socket to adjust themselves to the vertical inclinations ot the ropes relative to the vertical run of the ropes of a tram -line that runs up or down mountainous countries;l as the bucketsl always stand substantially in a vertical plane, while the rope may be positioned either up or 4down at a very steep inclination. '45' The operation is as follows: The tractionrope is a continuously-running rope, and it is moved on trams built to convey ores and` other material down mountainous and hilly countries by the weight of the loaded buck` ets, and when a tram-line is level or conveys material up an incline it is moved by power. The clips are secured to the traction-rope at suitable distances apart, and the sockets are secured to the trolleys or to the pendants of the buckets, as the case may be. A number of buckets are employed, and an equal number of clips are secured at substantially equal distances apart in the length of the endless continuously running traction rope. The buckets enter the unlocking and locking guides in t-he direction of the arrow 70. (See Fig. l0.) Upon comingiin contact with the lower rod the actuating-lever is raised to the top rod and to the horizontal slot between. This upward movement of the actuating-lever turns the rings of the yoke to register with the slots inthe socket, `allowing the rope and the clip continue on without in thel least slowing up, and the released bucket may be dumped or loaded, as required, and then be moved into the connecting position C C by any suitable means to be again attached to a clip of the traction-rope. A bucket is always. moved and kept standing at the clip -connecting station before the bucket behind it is released, and as the actuating-lever comes down to the bottom of the incline B B ofthe actuating-levers actuatingrods and the slot 33, that registered with the slot 24A and allowed the clip to pass out of the socket, turns upward again the slot 2-1A in the socket is closed by the solid portion of the ring 30, thus closing the passage out of the socket; but this downward movement of the actuating-lever at the same time brings the slot 32 of the ring 29 in alinement with the slot 24E of the socket and the clip as the actuating-lever passes along the horizontal portion of the slot C Cin the actuating-levers operating-rods, passes through the slots 24 and 32 into the socket and strikes against the side ot' the ring 30'of the yoke, and thus picks up and moves the bucket along with it, and when the actuating-lever runs down the incline slot E E ot' the actuating-levers operating-rods the slot 32 of the ring 29 of the yoke is turned up above the slot in the socket, which is covered by a solid portion of the ring,and the socket and bucket are locked to the clip and traction-rope.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a clip for alternately connecting andV releasing buckets to and from the tractionrope of wire-rope tramways, the combination with the rope and the trolley of the clip-plate secured to said rope at one end, an enlarged head end on the free end of said clip, the socket secured to said bucket and adapted to receive the enlarged end of said clip, the yoke rotatably mounted on said socket and means for operating said yoke to lockand unlock said clip from said socket, substantially as described.

2. In a clip for alternately connecting and releasing buckets to and from the tractionrope of wire-rope tramways, the combination of a plate-cli p secu red at one end to said traction-rope, a cross or T-shaped bolt end at the free end of said clip, a socket provided with an axial recess secured to a part of said buckets support, a centralrecess in said. socket into the axial aperture thereof and slots in the end portions of said socket adapted to allow said bolt and body ot' said clip to pass through said socket and means for locking said clip in the center recess of said socket, substantially as described.

3. In a rope-and-trolley-bucket-connecting clip, the combination `with the trolley, of a ICO IIO

said tube horizontally-arranged slots in the ends of said socket, round bearing portions on said socket at each side of said central portion, rings connected rigidly together by a Vyokeshaped bar rotatably mounted on said bearings, a slot in'each ring arranged to alternately register with the slots in said socket but arranged out of alinement with each other so that one of the rings will be in position to cover the slot in one end of said socket, when the slot in the opposite ring registers with the slot in the opposite end of said socket, means including a lever for operating said rings to open and close said slots and a clip secured at one end to a rope and having its opposite end arranged to enter said socket and to be locked to and released from said socket by a partial rotative movement of said rings, substantially as described. v

4. In a traction-rope and trolley-bucket lock-clip, the combination with the rope of a trolley provided with a socket having slots through its sides, a clip attached at one end to said rope and .having its free end arranged to move into and through said socket, means including slotted rings mounted on said socket for automatically securing said clip to, and releasing it from said socket and trolley, substantially as described. f

5. In a rope-and-trolley-bucket-connecting clip, the combination with the trolley provided with two tubes at its top spaced at a short distance apart, a downwardly-sloping recess between said tubes and having said tubes provided with horizontally-arranged slots in alinement with each other adapted to form a passage through said tubes, rings rotatably mounted on said tubes and provided with slots out of alinement with each other but arranged and adapted to be alternately moved over first one slot-passage of one tube and then over the other slot-passage of the opposite tube, means including a level' for moving said rings to open and close said slotpassages through said rings, and a clip secured at one end to said rope, and having its opposite end arranged to enter and pass through said tubes and their slot-passages and arranged and adapted to be unlocked by a rotative movement of said rings ou said tubes in one direction and free to move out of said tubes and to enter said tubes and be locked and held centrally between them by a rotative movement ot said rings in opposite direction, substantially as described.

6. In a rope-and-trolley-bucket-connecting clip, the combination with a bucket-trolley comprising a casing, sheave-wheels mounted tached to the opposite end of said pendant, a downwardly-inclined recess in the top of said spreader -block and casing extending from the top of the pendent side of said trolley downward to its opposite side, a tubular lug on the'top of said spreader-block on each side of said recess, an axial bore extending throughsaid tubular lugs, a part of which passes through the bottom of said recess, a horizontal slot extending through the shell of each tubular lug into its axial bore from the recess side of said spreader-block and in longitudinal alinement with each other, and a round bearing portion on the inside edge of each tubular lug, of a pair of rings connected together by a yoke-shaped arm rotatably mounted on said bearing portions, a slot through the shell of each ring arranged out of alinement with each other but arranged and adapted to alternately register with the slots in said tubular lugs by rotative movement of said rings, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said spreader between said tubular lugs, an angular slot in said lever intermediate ofv its ends slidably connected to the yoke-shaped connecting-arm, a clip secured at one end to said rope, a round stem member at its opposite end adapted to fit loosely into said tubular lugs and to pivotally rest in them when in operative relation to them, a thin plate body portion adjacent to lsaid stem member adapted to fit loosely in said slots in said rings and tubular lugs and swing vertically between them on its pivotal stem portion, and rods supported in the path of said lever and trolley-bucket arranged and adapted to raise and lower said lever to rotate said rings to unlock and to lock said clip in the tubular lugs of said trolley, substantially as described.

7. In a bucket-and-traction-rope-connectinglock-clip, the combination with the trolley, of the socket comprising the tubular lugs, the downwardly-inclined recess between said lugs, the slots in said lugs and the locking and unlocking rings rotatably mounted on said lugs, substantially as described.

8. In a bucket-and-traction-rope-connectinglock-clip, the combination with the trolley, the pendant pivotally secured thereto and the socket comprising the slotted tubes having a downwardly-inclined recess between containing a semicircular recess in alinement with the aperture through said tubes, and the yoked rings rotatably mounted on said tubes, and provided with slots arranged out of alinement and adapted to4 register in alternate order with the slots of the tubes of said socket, of a lever pivotally secured at one end to said trolley, a right-angled slot in said lever intermediate of its ends in which the cross-bar of said yoke is slidably secured, a clip secured at one end to said rope and having a free end arranged to enter said sockets tubes, and pass through the slots ot' said tubes and yoke-rings, and means for operating said lever to lock and to release said ICO IIO

clip-to and from said socket, substantially as described.

9. In a buckct-and-traction-rope-conneeting clip, a clip comprising a llat, thin blade provided with projecting bands or ribbon at one end arranged and adapted to be folded around said rope and to rigidly secure said. clip to said rope, an enlarged round stem having pointed ends extending across the opposite end of said blade and beyond it on each side and arranged parallel with the width of` the blades, substantially as described.

l0. In a traction-rope-and-trolley-bucketconnecting clip, a socket secured to said trolley-bucket comprising slotted tubes spaced at a short distance apart and having their apertures and slots in axial alinement with each other, a lever pivotally secured at one end to` ward movement of said lever whereby said lever and said yoke, owing, to their differential axial centers are locked against further downward movement and said yoke is locked against independent or accidental rotative y movement on said tubes, substantially as described.

l1. In a traction-rope-andtrolley-bucketconnectingclip,thecombination of'the trolleycasing having a longitudinal groove centrally in its top, the socket-rings securedto said trolley in alinement with said groove, a clip secured at one end to said rope and having its opposite end provided with a pointed stem member arranged across its free end and arranged and adapted as it travels with said rope to enter the groove in the top of said trolley-casing and be guided into said sockettubes, and means including an actuatinglever for locking said clip to, and for unlocking said clip from, said socket-tubes of said trolley, substantially as described.

12. In a traction-rope-and-trolley-bucketconnecting clip, the combination with the stationary or track rope, of the trolleys sheavewheels mounted thereon, a casing in which said sheave-wheels are operatively supported, a curved groove centrally in the top of said casing alongr its length, a spreader-block secured to said casing between said sheavewheels having tubes at its top, spaced at a short distance apart provided with outwardlyflaring entrance ends and arranged in alinement with said groove in the top of said casing, horizontal slots in said tubes in alinement with each other, yoke-connected rings rotatably mounted on said tubes provided with slots through their shells arranged out of alinement with each other but adapted to register alternately with the slots in said tubes, a clip secured at one end to said traction-rope and having a T-shaped free end arranged and adapted to pass inio and through said tubes and rings, a lever pivotally connected to said spreader-block between said tubes having a ball or knob head at its free ends, guide-rails arranged in the path of said lever and spaced at a suitable distance apart to receive, guide, and raise and lower said lever whereby said lever is raised and lowered to unlock the free end of said clip and to lock it to said trolley, substantially as described.

13. In a traction-rope-and-trolley-bucketconnecting clip, the combination of the trolley,l the socket connected thereto; the yoked locking-rings mounted thereon, and the actuating-lever arranged and adapted to move vertically in an arc of a circle with a pair of guide-rods arranged in the traveling path of said trolley and yoked rings clip locking and unlocking actuating-lever and arranged and adapted at a short distance apart to form a guide-slot between them through which the free endl of said actuating-lever is adapted to move, and arranged first with an upward inoline portion adapted to raise said actuatinglever to move said yoked rings to unlock said clip from said trolleys clip-receivingI socket and then formed with a horizontal straight slot portion adapted to hold said lever up in an unlocked position while the bucket slows down to a stop, and the clip moves out of said socket and then bent downward to a position to permit a clip to enter said socket and extended in a horizontal position for a sufcient distance to allow said clip to enter said socket and pick up said bucket, and then bent downward to move said lever down to lock said clip tothe socket and to said trolley-bucket and having said rods curved to register with the radius of the free end of said lever, substantially as described. t

14. In a traction-rope-and-trolley-bucketconnecting clip, the combination with the clip and the pendant of the bucket, of crossbars secured to said pendant; a ring xed to said cross-bars; a ring revolubly mounted in said fixed ring and means for securing the socket of the clip to said revoluble ring, substantially as described.

l5. In a traction-rope-and-bucket-connecting clip, the combination with the pendant of a fixed ring secured to said pendant; a ring rotatably mounted in saidixed ring, a cliplocking socket secured to said rotatable ring comprising two tubes spaced at a short distance apart and provided with` outwardlyflared tubular ends, horizontal slots in said tubes, a collar portion on said socket centrally between said tubes and having the apertures of both tubes extending axially through said collar, an angular space in one side of said collar extending into its axial bore, horizontal slots through said endtubes in alinement with one another through said TOO IZO

angular space in said collar, a clip secured at one end to said traction-rope and having its opposite end formed into a T-shaped locking-bolt, rings rotatably mounted on said tubes, a lever pivotally secured to said collar portion and projecting through said rotating ring cf said pendant and extending through said ring, a pivotal sliding connection between said yoked rings and said lever, horizontal slots in said yoked rings arranged to alternately lock and unlock said clip to said socket, and suitable guide-rods arranged to operate said lever, substantially as described.

16. In a traction-rope-and-trolley-bucketconnecting clip, the combination with the pendant of the fixed ring secured thereto, the ring rotatably mounted in said fixed ring the socket secured to said rotatable ring; a clip secured atone end to said traction-rope, a stem-shaped bolt member arranged to enter said socket at its free end and means including the yoked rings rotatably mounted on said socket for locking and unlocking the clip to said socket, substantially as described.

clip comprising a thin plate provided with a l bolt member at its free end, and secured at its opposite end to said traction-rope, of a socket comprising a tube having outwardlyflaring ends, a horizontal slot extending through said socket, an inclined recess in said socket intermediate of the ends of said socket, a rocking member mounted on said socket provided with slots arranged out of alinement with eachother and arranged to alternately register with said slots in said socket, means for securing said socket to said trolley-bucket; and means for operating said rocking member to release and lock said clip from and to said socket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l aftix my signature 

